John Douglas (Doug) Anthony was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales and was educated at the King's School in Parramatta (Sydney) and Gatton Agricultural College, Queensland. He later took up farming in the Murwillumbah district growing tropical fruit, dairying and raising pigs.

In 1957, Anthony was elected to federal Parliament as an Australian Country Party Member for Richmond (New South Wales) at a by-election caused by the death of his father, the Hon Hubert Lawrence (Larry) Anthony (CP 1027). Anthony (senior), also an Australian Country Party member, had held portfolios in the Menzies and Fadden Ministries.

After entering Parliament, Doug Anthony retained Richmond at 11 subsequent general elections until his resignation in January 1984. He succeeded C F Adermann as Deputy Leader of the Australian Country Party (1966-71) and became Leader of the Party (1971-84) on the retirement of Sir John McEwen. The Australian Country Party was renamed the National Country Party in 1975 and then the National Party of Australia (often abbreviated to 'The Nationals') in October 1982.

Anthony's first portfolio was as Minister for the Interior (1964-67) in the last Menzies and first Holt Ministries. In later Liberal-Coalition Governments, he was Minister for Primary Industry (1967-71), Minister for Trade and Industry (1971-72), Minister for Minerals and Energy (Fraser Caretaker Government, 1975), Minister for Overseas Trade and National Resources (1975-77) and Minister for Trade and Resources (1977-83).

Doug Anthony was also Deputy Prime Minister (1971-72 and 1975-83) and acted as Prime Minister on several occasions, particularly during the Fraser Government (1976-83); and was a member of Parliamentary committees relating to the new Parliament House (1965-67) and House of Representatives Standing Orders (1971-83).

During the Whitlam Labor Government, Anthony was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry and spokesman on Trade, Resources and Decentralised Development (1974-75) and when R J L Hawke was in office, Anthony was again Opposition spokesman on Trade (1983-84).

Anthony made numerous official visits overseas, especially relating to major trade negotiations and was leader of various delegations, including to the Pacific Conference on Urban Growth (Honolulu, 1967), the Conference on Wheat Exporters (Ottawa, 1970), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, Paris, 1971), the Third United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Chile, 1972), the Papua New Guinea Independence Day Celebrations (1975) and the Multinational Trade Negotiations (Geneva, 1978).

After leaving federal politics, Anthony held several company directorships, including PosGold Ltd (1993-97), Normandy Mining Ltd (1996-99). He was also Chairman of the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (1997-2004) and of the Old Parliament House Governing Council (1999-2009).

Doug Anthony was appointed a member of Her Majesty's Privy Council (PC) in 1971, a Companion of Honour (CH) in 1982 and became a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) in 2003. He was also a recipient of the New Zealand Commemoration Medal (1990), the Centenary of Federation Medal (2003) and other awards.

He died on 20 December 2020, survived by his wife, Margot and their three children. He was, at that time, Australia's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister.

Sources

Parliamentary Handbook 1984, pp 34-6; 1986, p 224
Who's Who in Australia 2004, pp 146-7
Who’s Who in Australia 2010, pp 146
Sydney Morning Herald, 20 Dec 2020; The Australian, 20 Dec 2020